Vote “Yes” to Transfer Township Assessor Duties to County

We’ve sung the praises of MySmartGov before, but just want to reiterate the importance of the Township Assessor question by referencing the site, which outlines why this is such an important subject for taxpayers:

Until recently, property in Indiana was assessed by 1,008 township assessors in 1,008 different ways. Some assessors’ work may have been impeccable, but the taxpayers in their townships still may have been paying more than their fair share of taxes because of the less competent job by an assessor down the road.

In fact, a 2005 study by the Indiana Fiscal Policy Institute found that 80 percent of the townships did not meet international standards for uniformity. The assessments were well outside the accepted error rate of plus or minus 15 percent – that is, international standards say it is acceptable for a $100,000 house to be assessed anywhere from $85,000 to $115,000.

Our advice: You want to vote "Yes" on the ballot question, "Should the assessing duties of the elected township assessor in the township be transferred to the county assessor?"

But will you even be able to vote on this important initiative? Check here to see if your township will be voting on the matter.

Your Money, Their Politics — Not a Good Mix

Township employees want to keep their jobs. There’s no big surprise there. But the fact that township employees would willingly and knowingly break the law (they have to understand that, don’t they?) to accomplish that goal is not only ironic, but somewhat tragic.

MySmartgov.org writes about the t-shirts, signs and letters (all generated on the public’s time and/or dime) that are bad enough. The "special dues assessment," however, is basically picking the pockets of taxpayers to run a political campaign. Those taxpayers can make their own choices. They don’t need their money used to save the "level of government closest to the taxpayers" when two-thirds of those taxpayers don’t know who their township officials are and have never used their services.

The November 4 referendum question in 43 townships states: Should the assessing duties of the elected township assessor in this township be transferred to the county assessor? MySmartgov.org wants you to look at the facts and make up your own mind. That only seems fair.